Located on the banks of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers and within Columbia University's 27-acre Baker Athletic Complex, Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium (pronounced WEEN) is the cornerstone of an impressive collection of facilities for Columbia Football.

One of the most modern football stadiums on the East Coast featuring beautiful views of the Hudson River and fall foliage from Inwood Hill Park, Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium was described by Sports Illustrated as “one of the most beautiful places in the country to watch a football game.”

In its fourth decade as the official Lions' Den, Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium seats 17,000 and is home to Columbia's football and women's lacrosse teams. The stadium, which opened in 1984, also boasts a 400-meter outdoor track and is utilized by Columbia's other outdoor varsity sports. It is the largest multi-purpose stadium on the island of Manhattan and the only regulation-sized football stadium with a capacity of 10,000 or more in Manhattan.

A brand-new FieldTurf artificial playing surface was installed at Wien Stadium during the summer of 2015. The Lions practice and compete on FieldTurf, the same infill system used by many NFL teams. FieldTurf was first installed at the stadium in 2005 replacing AstroTurf.

In October 2007, Columbia announced that the playing field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium would be named Robert K. Kraft Field in honor of Robert Kraft '63CC, owner of the New England Patriots and Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group.

In addition to providing a modern facility for Columbia's student-athletes, Lawrence A. Wien Stadium acts as a modern athletics arena in a traditional setting which provides for the needs of fans, alumni and the media. The Columbia press box, located on the east side of the field, stands at the top of a three-level structure that also houses the Maniatty-Remer Lounge, home to numerous alumni gatherings. The Maniatty-Remmer Lounge was remodeled prior to the 2015 season. The East stands below the press and lounge areas, hold 10,500 spectators in armchair, contour and bench seats. In 1986, the construction of the 6,500-seat west bleachers increased stadium capacity to the current 17,000.

Over the years, Lawrence A. Wien Stadium has been the site of numerous football television broadcasts by various networks including ESPN, NBC Sports Network, Fox College, CBS Sports Network, Ivy League Digital Network, Public Broadcasting System, Yes Network and OneWorld Sports.

Beyond the west stands is a panoramic view of Spuyten Duyvil and Inwood Hill Park, the confluence of the Hudson and Harlem rivers, the apartment skyscrapers of Riverdale and the New Jersey Palisades. The view is one reason that Wien Stadium was featured in Sports Illustrated as one of the “most beautiful places in the country” to watch a football game.

Dressing facilities for teams, coaches and officials are located within Chrystie Field House, while the coaches' offices, team meeting rooms, conference rooms and fully equipped training facility are located at the Campbell Sports Center, which opened in January 2013.

Wien Stadium also boasts a 400-meter, all-weather, eight-lane track, making it the finest track & field facilities in the New York City area. Since its installation, it has been the site for the New York Track & Field Games, the Heptagonal Championships and the Metropolitan Championships. At the north end, the stadium also features a video scoreboard which was installed in 2009, one of the first of its kind in the Ivy League.

The stadium was originally named for Lawrence A. Wien, ‘25CC, '28LAW, a former Columbia trustee, prominent philanthropist, lawyer and entrepreneur, who donated $3 million to the project before his passing in 1988. Subsequent gifts from Wien paid for the west stands, the 3,500-seat Columbia Soccer Stadium, and the Mae Wien Center for Women's Athletics.

The original Baker Field was purchased for the university by financier George H. Baker for $700,000 on December 31, 1921. It was dedicated the following April, but it was not until 1923 that the Columbia football team began playing there. A 32,000-seat wooden stadium was built on the site in 1928; this was in use until 1982, when it was demolished to make room for the current Wien Stadium.

LAWRENCE A. WIEN STADIUM FACTS

Year Opened:

1984

Capacity:

17,000

First Game:

September 22, 1984

Former Name:

Baker Field (1923-82)

Location:

West 218th Street at Park Terrace West

Neighborhood:

Inwood, Manhattan, New York City

Original Cost:

$7 million

Architect:

Dattner Architects

EVENTS HOSTED AT ROBERT K. KRAFT FIELD AT LAWRENCE A. WIEN STADIUM

Columbia Football Games

Columbia Women's Lacrosse Games

New York Track & Field Games

Heptagonal Track & Field Championships

Metropolitan Track & Field Championships

2018 Ivy League Men's Lacrosse Tournament

NYPD vs. Corrections Officers Game

Graduation Ceremonies for other schools

PSAL High School Lacrosse Playoffs

CHSAA High School Lacrosse Playoffs

AAIS Lacrosse Games

AAIS Track and Field Events

New York City Public Schools Field Days

Columbia Intramurals

New Era Pinstripe Bowl practice venue for one of the two teams

Various community service activities and initiatives

STADIUM TIMELINE

December 31, 1921

Columbia takes title to the tract of land that includes Baker Field by means of a $700,000 gift from financier George F. Baker. The University breaks ground on Baker Field shortly after.

April, 1922

Baker Field is dedicated with Columbia's first spring football practice held on the grounds. Columbia's football team practices at Baker Field during the fall, but plays its 1922 schedule at South Field on the main campus.

1923

Original 15,000-seat Baker Field opens with temporary seating. Natural grass was installed and remained until 1994.

September 29, 1923

Columbia plays its first home football game at Baker Field, defeating Ursinus, 13-0.

1928

The University builds the 32,000-seat wooden stadium that stands for 55 years until it was razed in spring, 1983.

September 29, 1928

Columbia plays its first game in its permanent stadium featuring wooden stands as the Lions defeat Vermont 20-0.

November 11, 1933

Columbia defeats Navy 14-7 after the Middies had beaten Notre Dame earlier in the year. The Lions conclude the 1933 season with an undefeated 6-0 record at home en route to an 8-1 overall record. On January 1, 1934, Columbia defeated Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

October 25, 1947

Columbia plays its most famous game at Baker Field, a 21-20 defeat of Army. The win ended the Cadet's 32-game unbeaten streak.

November 18, 1961

Columbia defeats Penn 37-6 at Baker Field to close out conference play with a 6-1 league record and share of the Ivy League title. On the previous Saturday, Columbia defeated Dartmouth 35-14. The Lions concluded the 1961 season with a 6-3 overall record.

November 6, 1971

Paul Kaliades kicks a 34-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to help Columbia upset Dartmouth 31-29 at Baker Field. The kick snapped the Big Green's 15-game unbeaten streak.

April 26, 1982

Columbia President Michael I Sovern announces a $3 million gift from Lawrence A. Wien, which marks the beginning of a campaign to build a new stadium.

November 20, 1982

Columbia plays its last game at Baker Field, a 35-21 loss to Brown in the regular season finale. The contest marked the 323rd game at the facility.

Columbia registers its first win at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, a 16-13 victory over Ivy League rival Princeton.

1986

West stands were dedicated as construction of 6,500 seats on the west side increased stadium capacity to its current 17,000.

1987

Columbia installs a 400-meter all-weather eight lane track and $100,000 computerized scoreboard and message board. The scoreboard, which stands at the northern end of the stadium, was donated by Thomas M. Macioce.

1995

Lawrence A. Wien Stadium natural grass is replaced by AstroTurf. The AstroTurf would remain for 11 years.

Spring, 1999

Columbia installs a new videoboard, the first of its kind in the Ivy League.

2005

New FieldTurf surface replaces the AstroTurf.

October 13, 2007

After a $5 million donation by Robert K. Kraft, '63 CC, the field was named in his honor. More on Kraft's donation in the New York Times. The owner of the NFL's New England Patriots, Kraft served two terms as a University Trustee.

Spring, 2009

Columbia updates its videoboard and replaces its running track.

January 2013

Columbia opens its brand-new, state-of-the-art Campbell Sports Center at the Baker Athletics Complex, which features coaches' offices, team meeting rooms, conference rooms and a fully-equipped strength and conditioning facility

Spring 2015

Columbia updates its playing surface with updated, brand-new FieldTurf prior to the 2016 football season. In addition, the University remodels the Maniatty-Remmer Lounge.

November 20, 2015

Columbia plays its first-ever Friday night home game under the lights when it hosts Brown.

(Note - Parking for Football games in and around Baker Athletics Complex is extremely limited. Fans are encouraged to use mass transit when possible.)

BY AUTOMOBILE: From WEST SIDE HIGHWAY/HENRY HUDSON PARKWAY: Exit Dyckman Street, and proceed east to Broadway. Make a left on Broadway and proceed 20 blocks north to 218th Street.

From FDR/HARLEM RIVER DRIVE: Continue north to end of Harlem River Drive. Bear right at light and proceed north on 10th Avenue to 218th Street.

*From MAJOR DEEGAN EXPRESSWAY (I-87): Exit 230th Street. Proceed on 230th Street westbound (from north – make right at light; from south make left at light). Continue on 230th Street to Broadway. Make left on Broadway and proceed 12 blocks to 218th Street.

From WEST: Take George Washington Bridge and follow signs for Henry Hudson Parkway North or Major Deegan Expressway North (follow directions above).

From NORTH: Take Cross-Westchester Expressway (I-287) or Cross-County Parkway west to Saw Mill River Parkway south. Take the Saw Mill to the Henry Hudson Parkway South or Major Deegan Expressway South (follow directions above).

From NEW ENGLAND: Take Connecticut Turnpike (I-95) to Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95). Exit Cross Bronx to Major Deegan Expressway North or Henry Hudson Parkway North (follow directions above).

From LONG ISLAND: Take Long Island Expressway East to Clearview Expressway North, or Northern State Parkway/Grand Central Parkway East to Cross Island Parkway North to Throgs Neck Bridge. Bear left after toll for Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) South (follow directions above).

From SOUTH: Take New Jersey Turnpike North to Exit 18 George Washington Bridge (follow directions above). *Commercial and Oversize Vehicles must use Major Deegan Expressway

By MTA NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY: Broadway-Seventh Avenue IRT Local ("1" train) north or south to 215th Street, then walk two blocks north and cross Broadway at W. 218th Street. OR 8th Avenue IND Express ("A" train) north to 207th Street, then proceed north to 218th Street.

By MTA METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAIL: Marble Hill Station is located just across the Harlem River from Baker Athletics Complex, at 225th Street. Walk east to Broadway, then south across the Broadway Bridge to 218th Street.